Morphe Stardust High Impact Highlighter Review, Photos, Swatches
Stardust
Morphe Stardust High Impact Highlighter ($14.00 for 0.28 oz.) has a cooler, light beige base with pink-to-violet shifting shimmer. There was a noticeable duochrome shift on the skin, though it looked more pink and lavender than beige at most angles. The consistency was smooth, firmer, and thin compared to other shades in the range, but it was soft enough to still pick up well with a highlighting brush and blended out without issue on my skin. It had semi-opaque, buildable coverage and a moderate sheen rather than a frosted or metallic finish on my cheekbones. It didn’t emphasize my skin’s texutre at all. The color lasted well for eight hours before fading slightly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Pat McGrath Iridescent Pink (003) (PiP, $60.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Sydney Grace Pink Mist (P, $9.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- NYX Lavender Steel (P, $7.99) is darker (95% similar).
- OFRA Cloud 9 (LE, $29.00) is more muted (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Naked Cherry #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Danessa Myricks Lust (P, $26.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Milk Makeup Supernova (P, $30.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Iridescent Pink 003 (LE, $25.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- ColourPop Chill Pill (P, $7.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Clionadh Fuse (P, $12.50) is warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$14.00/0.28 oz. - $50.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have a "creamy" finish that is "weightless" that have an "explosive, prismatic effect." A few shades (like Extra, Spark, and Stardust) had a softer sheen--more shine than shimmer--that I think might appeal to some, while other shades are intensely metallic and much more shimmery on the skin (like Mirage and Boom). The texture of the ones that weren't quite as shimmery felt smooth, firmer and denser, but not stiff to work with, and I didn't have any trouble applying or blending them out. The more shimmery shades felt creamier and denser but less firmly pressed in the pan, so it was even easier to pickup product with a typical, tapered highlighter brush. They wore well for eight to nine hours on me before fading. One thing to note, I don't think the term "prismatic" is a good descriptor of these, a only one shade had true shift (Stardust was a duochrome), and I'm wondering if the brand understood the term before using it (as it's not a case where I can see an attempt at a duochrome--the range includes very standard highlighting shades).
Browse all of our Morphe High Impact Highlighter swatches.
Ingredients
Mica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Dimethicone, Boron Nitride, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenyl Trimethicone, Polyethylene, Magnesium Myristate, Polypropylene, Nylon-12, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tin Oxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin. +/- May Contain/Peut Contenir: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
I have avoided everything Morphe but these highlighters have been calling my name. I felt like I couldn’t trust a brand (or any other brand, not just Morphe) that was constantly shoving sponsored reviews and discount codes down my throat. I haven’t really look into them for a while so I don’t know if things have changed and they’ve lightened up a bit because I honestly would love to grab a couple of these highlighters!
Hey Alana,
I totally understand where you’re coming from! I do think that they’ve been putting out improved offerings, and now that they’re also at Ulta, that might be easier to try with less of a commitment with all of Ulta’s policies and the like.
I must be living under a rock because that is news to me! Thank you for the info!
Sure thing 🙂 I think it happened in the last year or so – recent enough! Pro tip: Morphe typically launches new releases on their site first but so far, Ulta has eventually had them a few weeks later!
Great tip! Thanks again! I’ll be checking out my local Ulta then 🙂
Super cool and ethereal looking, like summer moonlight! I love it! Having Nyx Lavender Steele pretty much makes it a no-go for now, however. Or does it…? ?
You could skip!!